[at-l] Before Baxter...figure why we're on list

[Shari Guida <sguida@uswest.net>]

Sometimes....Baxter or not Baxter....sometimes it's down south for those
who start very early in the season....sometimes it's in the Whites of
NH. Each person. Each bout of bad weather. Each bout of bad storms in
one's head or heart.

We have to ask ourselves as listers why each of us is here. Are we here
for a sense of community we don't find in our regular lives? Are we here
for information about the activity we love? Are we here to live
vicariously through the tales of those who are actively hiking?

There are many lurkers, and some who post occasionally, some who post
often and some who post, well, frequently. Anyone who posts does so
knowing that what they say can and will be discussed, argued, supported,
flogged or ignored.

I invite people to share their experiences knowing the risk of sharing.
That takes a bravery of a sort. I'd like to hope that we're not here to
judge those who push the envelope nor those who don't. Envelopes come in
all sizes, materials, shapes and colors. One person's envelope may be a
single dayhike on easy terrain. Another's is summiting the highest peak
in each continent.

On the other hand, i liked the line from "The Cider House Rules":
"Sometimes you have to break the rules to set things right." Another
good line from John Fowles The Magus is "thou shalt never cause
unnecessary pain."

It would be a good thing to see each of us be more thoughtful of our
decisions if it puts others at risk, ie., those brave people who do put
themselves at risk to rescue those who find themselves in trouble (and
we could all find ourselves in trouble whether it be from weather,
getting lost of injury). In addition to hearing from those who did or
did not heed rangers' warnings....i'd like more to hear some true
thoughts of WHY one did or did not choose to do what they did when they
did it.

Is that asking too much baring of souls? Or shall we just laugh about
ferrets, smashmallows and tutus?

Second Chance

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